Page 56 of The First Mistake

‘What about your parents?’ I asked, deflecting the conversation back onto him.

‘My mum has dementia and is in a home, and my dad lives in Sydney with his new wife.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. Do you see her very often?’

‘As much as I can,’ he said sadly. ‘I try to go in a few times a week.’

‘That must be really difficult. Does she know who you are? Is she able to recognize people?’

‘It’s a bit hit and miss,’ he said. ‘She has good days and bad days, but unfortunately she’s at a stage where it’s really starting to take hold.’ His voice caught in his throat. ‘Is your mum in good health?’

‘She is, yes,’ I said, whistling and touching the wooden surround of the headboard. ‘She’s made of stern stuff and puts me to shame.’

‘In what way?’ he asked.

‘Ineveryway. She’s on the go 24/7; doing a yoga class, walking a neighbour’s dog, helping out at church, volunteering down at the soup kitchen. If I have half the energy and a quarter of the conscience that she has when I’m her age, I’ll be very happy with my lot. She’s a force to be reckoned with.’

‘So, she doesn’t work as such?’ he asked.

‘No, not in the sense that she earns money, though she probably works the same hours as a full-time job. But that’s not why she does it. She’s just a selfless person who gets a great deal of satisfaction from helping others. Making someone’s day easier is reward enough for her.’

‘So, she doesn’t have to worry, financially?’

I laughed. ‘Good grief no. The only financial pressure she’s under is to spend more. She’s still in the house we all lived in as a family, but it needs some money spent on it. She’s essentially only living in the downstairs rooms, and yet she still won’t put the heating on or change the rickety old windows that are letting a cold draught through. The pool hasn’t been used for years and the stables are derelict. I’d love to see it restored to its former glory, but she reckons she’s happy with it the way it is.’

‘So, what’s she spending all her money on then?’ he asked incredulously.

‘No doubt she’s giving some of it to worthwhile causes and I’m sure there’s a reason why Father Michael has a little twinkle in his eye every time he sees her.’

Thomas raised his eyebrows playfully.

‘Oh no, I didn’t mean ...’

‘So, you don’t think it’s because she plays his organ every Sunday?’ he said.

‘That’s outrageous,’ I shrieked, hitting him with a pillow. ‘You know what I mean.’

‘She must be getting a return somewhere. It wouldn’t make sense to leave it lying dormant.’

I shook my head. ‘It’s all in a building society, earning a pittance in interest. It could be put to work, so that she makes money without losing any of her capital, but she’s a tough nut to crack.’

‘She should invest in the wine business,’ he said, laughing.

‘What, and give all her money to a shady character like you? No chance.’

‘I’ll try not to take that personally,’ he said, through a smile. ‘I’d do it as a favour.’

‘And what wouldyouget out of it?’

He smiled. ‘Well, normally I work on commission, but for you ...’ He moved himself down the bed, his lips setting my skin alight as he went. ‘For you, I could do a special deal.’

‘What kind of special deal?’ I asked, my back arching involuntarily.

‘Well, if you keep letting me do this to you ...’ A breath caught in my throat as I felt his tongue. ‘Then I’d beveryhappy to take payment in kind.’

20

‘Mum, you’ve got more of a social life than me!’ I was looking at her calendar hanging in the kitchen, the bottom of it moving ever so slightly in the draught coming through the windows.

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